Thailand Accuses Cambodia of Employing Landmines, Firmly Commits to Aggressive Response
Thailand is taking a diplomatic stand against alleged landmine planting by Cambodia along their shared border. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a delegation of diplomats will travel to the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket on Saturday, 16 August 2025.
The delegation will include representatives from countries that are party to the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
The current border dispute has been marked by ongoing accusations by Thailand that Cambodia has been planting new landmines in disputed border areas, causing injuries to Thai soldiers. This situation follows a ceasefire agreement signed in late July 2025, which officially ended full-scale conflict but has not fully stopped incidents involving landmines and small arms fire along the border.
Jirayu Huangsap, the Government Spokesperson, announced that Bangkok is alerting the global community to Cambodia's actions. Jirayu reiterated Thailand's commitment to international law and humanitarian principles, and affirmed that the government will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the country's sovereignty and security.
The Second Army Area chief stated that the Thai King closely monitors the Thai-Cambodian border situation. The delegation will be briefed on the work of the Humanitarian Mine Action Unit 2 in the Phu Makheua area and will inspect areas of civilian damage, including the village of Ban Nong Mek and Phum Srol Witthaya School.
The purpose of the diplomats' visit is to gather support and evidence regarding the alleged landmine planting by Cambodia. The alleged actions by Cambodia contravene the Ottawa Convention on landmines, to which both countries are signatories.
The Thai government is determined to use every possible channel to protect the nation's sovereignty. An Interim Observer Team (IOT) will visit the border region from 18-20 August 2025, arranged by the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The delegation will receive further briefings from officials during their visit.
The Thai Army maintains a stronghold along the Thai-Cambodian border and is ready to respond to any incursion. The visit is intended to address the violation of international law and humanitarian principles. Thailand has formally accused Cambodia of secretly planting anti-personnel landmines along the border and is pressing for cooperation in mine clearance efforts.
Cambodia has pledged to work with Thailand on mine clearance but disputes the accusations about recent mine-laying. The diplomatic visit comes as Thailand seeks to ensure the safety of its citizens and to leverage the Ottawa Convention in international forums to call on Cambodia to stop planting mines and cooperate on clearance efforts.
- The diplomatic visit to the Thai-Cambodian border provinces aims to gather support and evidence regarding the allegations of Cambodia contravening the Ottawa Convention on landmines.
- Thailand is utilizing international politics, particularly the Ottawa Convention, to address the violation of international law and humanitarian principles by Cambodia's alleged landmine planting.
- The current border dispute and the allegations of landmine planting by Cambodia have sparked a need for diplomatic travel and general news coverage, affecting both countries' cultural relations and global political standings.
